Tunisia goes through an institutional crisis that has been brewing since last June 2 when the President of the country, Beji Caid Essebsi, proposed the formation of a national unity government to address the situation. The wave of events that have happened since then have led to the fall of that who was the prime minister until three days ago, Habib Essid, and the proposal of a new head of government today by the President. All this in a context of state of emergency in the country to which it had been subjected since November 2015 and that was extended on July 19 for another two months.

Following the proposal of the President, the four parties forming the current coalition government −Nidaa Tunis, Ennahda , Afek Tunis and the Patriotic Union Libre− demanded the resignation of Habib Essid on June 17 citing his inability to advance solutions to the economic situation, which remains stagnant and with higher unemployment rates, and to the rise of terrorism, which has resulted in three major attacks during 2015; the last being in November and from which Tunisia remains in a state of emergency.

Essid showed his refusal from the beginning and on July 13 ordered to undergo a confidence vote in the Assembly of People’s Representatives, coinciding with the signing of the “Document of Cartagena,” a plan with socioeconomic and security measures negotiated between the parties during months and which was launched at the proposal of the President. The document was signed the same day by the four coalition parties, some small parties −Al Yumhuri, Al Masar, Al Mubadara and Movement Project-Tunisia−, employers (UTICA) and the main national union (UGTT); however, it has the disapproval of the left, represented by the Popular Front coalition, in which twelve parties are grouped.

Meanwhile, Essid reaffirmed his refusal to resign and on July 20 presented the official request for a vote of confidence that, according to Article 98 of the Constitution of 2014 it has to be obtained by an absolute majority of the House of Representatives, this is by 109 deputies of the 217 that make up the whole. However, Article 80 states that ” in case of an imminent danger threatening institutions, national security or independence of the country and that obstructs the proper functioning of public authorities, the Assembly cannot be dissolved (…) nor can there be a motion of censure against the government (…)”. Finally, on July 30 the Assembly voted for the resignation of Essid, who got only 3 votes in favour. During the session, which was attended by only 191 of the 217 deputies, 43 deputies did not vote, 27 abstained and 118 voted against.

Currently, Essebsi has a period of 10 days until 8 August to appoint a new prime minister who in turn would have a month to form a unity government, having announced today the proposal of the current minister of Local Affairs Yusef Chahed as such. However, such a proposal is being particularly controversial because of the familial relationship between the President and the latter, which has raised strong criticism from the opposition, who claims that the political transition in Tunisia should not fall into the hands of nepotism. On the other hand, there is uncertainty on whether the parties that signed the Cartagena Document are willing to vote in favour of the Essebsi’s proposal or, on the contrary, as it is permitted by the Constitution, Esssebsi would find himself “in the need” to appoint the head of Government by himself if circumstances come to provoke institutional paralysis in the country.